Puzzle



`(No Model.)

w.- P. MOORE.

PUZZLE.

No. 570,762. Patented Nov, 3,A 18916.

3y my@ Y Arron/firs.

lllllllllllllllllllllllll UNITED STATES PATENT OrricE.

VILLlAM-F. MOORE, OF PLAINFIELD, NEW JERSEY.

PUZZLE.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 570,762, dated November 3, 1896.

Application filed December 26, 1895. Serial No. 573,406. (No model.)

To all whom t may concern: l

Beit known that I, VILLIAM F. MOORE, of Plainfield, in the county of Union and State of New Jersey, have invented a new and Improved Puzzle, of which the following is a full, clear, and exact description.

My invention relates to an improvement in puzzles; and the object of the invention is to provide a puzzle which may be employed to simulate the storming of a castle, and to so construct the puzzle that it will require dexterity, persistence, and patience on the part of the operator to solve said puzzle; and furthermore to provide a puzzle which will be exceedingly interesting, entertaining, and instructive, and conducive to historical research, the puzzle being likewise conducive to the exercise of the mind and imagination, affording at the same time exercise for the hands and eyes, tending to render both exact and skilful in the proper carrying out of the game.

The invention consists in the novel construction and combination of the several parts, as will be hereinafter fully set forth, and pointed out in the claims.

Reference is to be had to the accompanying drawings, forming a part of this specification, in which similar characters of reference indicate corresponding parts in all the figures.

Figure 1 is a plan view of the improved puzzle with the top or cover removed. Fig. 2 is a longitudinal vertical section through the cover, illustrating the body of the puzzle in side elevation; and Fig. 3 is a central longitudinal and vertical section through the cover and body of the puzzle, the section being taken substantially on the line 3 3 of Fig. 1.

In carrying out the invention a base or ioor A is constructed of pasteboard of suitable thickness, of wood, or a like material. This base or iioor may be of any desired shape. Usually, however, it is somewhat rectangular, as illustrated, and may be provided with a marginal groove to receive a cover B, or the said cover may simply rest on the said board.

At what may be'termed the front of the base or iioor a block 10 is secured transversely thereof and at a central point, the said block being provided with a central recess 11, made transversely therein, and at each side of the said recess the upper face of the block is .beveled or inclined in a downward direction, forming thereby two inclined planes 12 and 12a. A Second block 13 is provided with a tongue 14 at its forward end, adapted to iit snugly within the recess l1 of the inclined block 10, the upper face of the block 13 being iiush with that of the upper central portion of the inclined block.

The block 13 extends longitudinally of the base or floor A, and at what may be termed its rear end is preferably provided with a circular enlargement or extension 14, and this enlargement is usually provided with a segmental groove 15, in which a correspondinglyshaped upright wall 16 is introduced and secured. The said wall may be and usually is made of pasteboard, and the opening 17 between its ends is opposite the longitudinal center of the straight or body portion of the said longitudinal block 13. It will thus be observed that by means of the wall 16 an inclosure 18 is made, and this -inclosure is adapted to represent a castle, as illustrated in Fig. 2, the outer face of the wall andlikewise the corresponding face of the circular enlargement or extension 14 being painted or otherwise decorated to produce such an impression.

The body portion of the block 13, or that which leads from the castle-like inclosure to the inclined block 10, is adapted to represent a bridge, and is decorated in asuitable manner to that end, and preferably the bridge is represented as constructed of a series of arches 20, as shown in Figs. 2 and 3.

The inclined planes 12 and 12:L are intended to represent approaches to the bridge 13; and between the said inclined planes or approaches a depression or cavity 21 is made in that portion of the bridge which extends over the block 10 between the said approaches. The space 22 between the approaches and the castle or inclosure 18 and around the said castle and the bridge is adapted to be made to represent water, while the base or floor A outside of the said space 22 may be decorated to simulate land. A

In fact, the puzzle-is adapted to represent an oldNorma-n castle surrounded by a deep and dangerous moat, over which an ancient IOO stone bridge throws its graceful arches, and the puzzle is to successfully attack and capture the castle; and a number of marbles 24 or other rolling objects are intended to represent knights engaged in the enterprise of capturing the castle. In working out the puzzle the marbles or balls 24 are. shot up either one of the inclined planes 12 or 12a in such manner that they will enter the cavity 21 and impinge on the wall thereot` at such point that the ball or marble will be deiiected from its course over the approach and made to travel at a right angle thereto along the bridge to enter the castle or inclosure 18, and when all of the balls or marbles have been thus lodged the castle or inclosure will be considered captured and the game won.

In the operation of the puzzle the hands and eyes of the operator are rendered skilful and steady; and the puzzle is furthermore conducive to the exercise of the mind and the imagination, forming a pleasant stimulation to both, because the operator sees in the inclosure, marbles, &c., not inanimate objects, but an old feudal castle with its surrounding moat, spanned by a bridge, and attacked by a body of soldiers. As heretofore stated, the puzzle will probably lead to research and study on the part of the operator, and, his attention and interest being aroused by the device, he will endeavor to read and study up the subject-s of castles, dac., and thus be introduced to the wide and very instructive iield of historical research.

Having thus described my invention, I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent- 1. A puzzle,the same consisting of a box-like structure, an inclosure on the base thereof, a bridge extending from and communicating with an opening in the inclosure, approaches at right angles to the bridge and leading thereto, a depression in the bridge between the approaches, and rolling objects adapted to travel over the approaches, en ter the depression and travel along the bridge, substantially as and for the purpose specified.

2. A puzzle,the same consisting of a box-like structure, an inclosure on the base thereof and representing a castle, a bridge extending from and connected with an opening in the inclosure, inclined planes leading from the base to opposite sides of the bridge and representing approaches, the bridge being provided with a depression or cavity between the said inclined planes, and rolling objects adapted to be carried up the inclined planes along the bridge to the inclosu re, substantially as shown and described.

In a puzzle, the combination with a boxlike structure, of a block secured transversely to one end of the base of the structure and having beveled or inclined ends, a second block arranged longitudinally of the base and having one end secured to the rst block with its upper surface flush therewith and provided with a cavity therein, the other end of the said block being provided with a circular enlargement, the portion of the said block between the iirst block and its enlargement representin g a bridge, and a circular wall on the said circular enlargement and having an opening at one side, the said enlargement and wall representing a castle, substantially as described.

4. A puzzle, consisting of a box-like structure, a block'arranged longitudinally of the base of the structure and having an enlargement at one end, the portion of the block between the enlargement and its other end representing a bridge, a wall on the enlargement and having an opening opposite that portion of the block representing a bridge, the enlargement of the block and wall representing a castle, a block arranged transversely ofthe base and having beveled or inclined ends forming approaches leading to opposite sides of the bridge, and rolling objects adapted to travel up the approaches and along the bridge to and through the opening in the said Wall, substantially as described.

5. A puzzle, consisting of a base, a cover resting on the base a blockarranged longitudinally of the base and having a circular enlargement at one end and provided with a concavity in the upper surface of its other end, the portion of the block between its ends representing a bridge, a circular Wall having an opening in its side opposite the bridge, the wall and enlargement representing a castle, a second block arranged transversely of the base and having beveled or inclined ends, to form approaches, and a recess in its upper surface to receive the end of the longitudinal block, and balls on the base and adapted to travel over the approaches and along the bridge to and through the opening of the said wall, substantially as herein shown and described.

WILLIAM F. MOORE.

iVitnesses JAS. C. FowLER, IRvING BROWN.

IOO 

